Families Topic 3 - Family Diversity Flashcards
What perspectives are described as ‘modernist’ in relation to family structures?
Functionalism and the New Right
These perspectives see modern society as having a clear-cut, fixed, and predictable structure.
According to Parsons, what family type provides the best ‘functional fit’ for modern society?
The nuclear family
Parsons believes it meets society’s needs due to the division of labour.
What are the roles in the division of labour within the nuclear family as defined by Parsons?
- Expressive role: wife cares for domesticity and children
- Instrumental role: husband is the breadwinner
These roles help the family perform essential functions.
What are the two essential functions of the nuclear family according to Parsons?
- Primary socialisation of children
- Stabilisation of adult personalities
Clear roles help prevent feelings of ‘anomiac’.
How does the New Right view family diversity?
They are opposed to it and believe the traditional nuclear family is the best for society
They see family diversity as problematic.
What are some criticisms the New Right has regarding lone-parent families?
- Lone mothers cannot properly discipline their children
- Boys lack an adult male role model
- Lone-parent families are welfare dependent
They attribute many social problems to these families.
What did Benson (2006) find regarding family breakdown rates?
Higher breakdown rates in cohabiting couples (20%) compared to married couples (6%)
Marriage is seen as a commitment that offers stability.
What is Chester’s (1985) view on family diversity?
He argues diversity has been exaggerated and that the nuclear family remains the aspiration for most people
He identifies the neo-conventional family as a dual earner family.
What patterns does Chester identify to support his argument on family structure?
- Most people live in a household headed by a married couple
- Most adults marry and have children
- Most marriages continue until death
- Cohabitation is often temporary before marriage
- Most births outside marriage are jointly registered
These patterns indicate a commitment to traditional family structures.
How do modernists view the family in society?
As a structure that shapes the behavior of its members
They see limited diversity.
What is the postmodernist view on family diversity according to Cheal (1993)?
There is far more diversity than modernists believe, with individuals having more choice and freedom
Society is now seen as chaotic and fragmented.
What family structure does Stacey (1998) identify that is shaped by divorce?
The divorce extended-family
Members are connected by divorce rather than marriage.
What does Morgan (1996) argue about family arrangements?
Families are whatever arrangements those involved choose to take
Emphasis on individual agency in family life.
What does the life course analysis method involve?
Using in-depth unstructured interviews to explore individual meanings of relationships
It focuses on choices made at various life stages.
What does Beck (1992) mean by ‘risk society’?
A society where tradition has less influence and people have more choice, leading to increased awareness of risks
This contrasts with fixed roles dictated by tradition.
What is the ‘negotiated family’ according to Beck?
A family type that does not conform to traditional norms and varies based on member wishes
More equal but less stable than traditional families.
What is the connectedness thesis proposed by Smart?
Individuals’ choices are made within a web of existing relationships
This emphasizes the influence of social connections on family choices.
What do Beck and Giddens argue about social structures?
They argue that traditional structures dictating behavior have disappeared
May counters that these structures are being reshaped.
What is a criticism of the individualisation thesis?
It overlooks the impact of social structures on individual choices
Smart argues for a focus on connectedness in relationships.
What are the Rapoport’s 5 types of family diversity?
- Social Class
- Generational
- Life Stage
- Cultural
- Organisational
